The latest movie theater news and updates

I wonder what kind of dystopian cyberpunk future we live in when you are physically searched before entering a movie theatre.

Last night (November 3rd), my girlfriend brought me along to see a screening of Derailed at the Paramount theatre in Toronto, which she had to review for a magazine she works for. The lineup for the screening was unusually long, as I think they also fill seats at press screenngs with radio call-in winners, who in hindsight, might have accepted such poor treatment in exchange for the ostensible privilege of paying for $30 worth of parking and fast food at a free $13 movie.

Anyway, the line was moving slowly because they were asking customers to raise their arms so that they could be electronically frisked with a metal detector, and women’s purses were being searched by uniformed security guards. Try to remember that this is Toronto, Canada we’re talking about here, not New York, Tel Aviv or London.

People who submitted to the search (everyone from what I could tell) had their cellphones taken from them and checked at a table set up in front of the theatre and they were given a ticket to reclaim it when they left.

As a Dallas native—now transplanted to the upper midwest—I long to see entries on this site about the Elm Street theaters that once defined downtown. Elm Street was known as ‘theater row".

The Palace was demolished when I was about 13; The Tower (home to roadshows of “My Fair Lady” et al), has always fascinated me because I never got to go there and it seemed to get the ‘big’ films; The Melba/Capri(the Cinerama house—crudely divided and expanded into a 6 screen multiplex and billed as ‘the largest theater in the world" as painted on the rear of the building on Pacific St.; and the Loew’s Downtown—the last 'palace’ built on Elm St in 1969 and demolished soon after—I think in 1974 or so.

Former NY'er…existing in The Midwest (what EVER that means…). I worked the Bleecker St and Carnegie Hall Cinemas… was close w/Meryl and Gary… other projectionist at Bleecker cannot remember his name… but spent many kind moments up in the booth!!

In fact, I was there when the artwork commissioned by Sid/Jackie, and completed by Dominique Pichou was unveiled at the Bleecker…

SUFFERN, NY — The Salute to Film Preservation – at the historic Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, NY – honors the heroic work from film archives around the world in preserving our motion picture heritage and features six programs of rare and hard-to-see films.

Among the programs will be the East Coast premiere of the newly-restored SuperCineColor treat ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET CAPTAIN KIDD, which will feature additional rare film footage and a personal appearance and Q & A session with Lou Costello’s daughter Chris Costello, presented in cooperation with the Fort Lee Film Commission.

Other films being screened highlight different film processes, including two-color Technicolor, three-strip Technicolor, silent cinema and 3-D. All of the films are screening in the finest studio and archive prints available and each show will feature pre-show music from the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Festival Dates: November 12 & 13, 2005.

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Loew’s Jersey presents a RARE screening of Abbott and Costello’s The Time of Their Lives, screened in Universal’s archival print (16mm). Hosted by Chris Costello—Lou’s daughter. Ms. Costello will talk about her father, Abbott and Costello, and take questions from the audience after the film.

On Sunday, November 13 at 1:30 PM, at The Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater:

SEATTLE, WA — Demolition began Oct. 31, on the Northgate Theatre in Seattle, according to the Seattle Times. Simon Properties wants to use the land the theater occupied for expansion of Northgate Mall. The adjacent Northgate Medical Office Building will be torn down as well.

The Northgate Theatre opened in September 1951 with 1,500 seats. It boasted Seattle’s largest staff of ushers (who wore buckskin uniforms) and the country’s largest crying room. Built in a Northwest Indian motif, the theater was an anchor of the Northgate Shopping Center.

This once-spectacular theater with its giant marquee is regarded by some as the first shopping-center moviehouse. It is featured in the book “Cinema Treasures.” The Northgate closed as a movie theater in 2002. It had brief incarnations as a concert venue and rave house before closing forever.

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND — After being on the market for over a year, this former cinema has now re-opened as a tile warehouse. Situated at the junction of St Leonard’s Rd and Towcester Rd, the TIVOLI opened in 1935 and closed in 1960.

After a period as a storage facility for a local haulage firm it became a car accessory store/fitting bay and has now been re-incarnated for the DIY market. The adjacent shop and cafe function as a diner with an American car on the roof!